Scientists discover 5 more Alzheimer's genes

Five more genes found to raise a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease have been identified by UK scientists.

The newly-discovered genes are linked with bodily processes and could potentially become targets for treatment.

Following this study, the number of identified genes associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's has risen to ten.

The research, published in the journal Nature Genetics, said if the effects of all the genes could be eliminated, the risk of the disease could be cut by as much as 60 per cent.

'What I find exciting is that we have found specific gene processes, we now have precise targets to identify treatments,' said study leader Professor Julie Williams, from Cardiff University.

She and the other researchers warned that new treatments for Alzheimer's could still be 15 years away.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, which funded part of the study, said: 'These findings are a step towards defeating dementia.'

Recently, a study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, US, found that a chemical process, called acetylation, has a link with one of the biological processes associated with Alzheimer's disease.